Switch-locking safety-panel



H. F. KRANTZ. SWITCH LOCKING SAFETY PIENEL, APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18,l9l6. RENEWED OCT. 25,-19l9- 1,342,550. d une 8,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1- FIG. I.

H. F. KRANTZ.

WITCH LOCKING SAFETY PANE FILED FEB. 18, 1916. RENEWED o PatentedJ 8,1920.

SHEET 3.

3 SHE UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce.

HUBER! F. KRANTZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T KRANTZ MANUFAC-TUBING- COMPANY, INC., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

SWITCH-LOCKING SAFETY-PANEL.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Application filed- February 18, 1916, Serial No. 79,085. Renewed October25, 1919. .Serial No. 333,160.

I To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HUBERT F. KRANTZ,

a citizen of the United States, and residing at Brooklyn, in thecounty-of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedSwitch-Locking Safety- Panel, of which the following specification fullto comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embodythe"same by is a full disclosure.

This invention deals with safety panel boxes and it proposes certainimprovements in the arrangements broadly comprehended by my co-pendingapplications Nos. 42,956 and 79,094; especially with respect topreventing the switch mechanism from being thrown into closed circuitposition after the door to the fuse compartment has been opened, thuspreventing the hands from ac cidentally contacting with live parts.

Among other objects achieved by the herein illustrated embodiment of myinvention are: (a) to keep the switch mechanism locked in its deaposition wheneverand at all times when the inspection door or panel isin open position; (b) to retain the switch mechanism locked in its deadposition whenever the inspection door is not locked in its closedposition; (a) to unlock and permit the switch mechanism to be actuatedin a normal manner whenever the inspection door is lockedin its closedposition; and (d) to automatically throw the switch mechanism fromits'live into its dead position whenever the door latch is moved 1 intoits unlocked position.

[Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and inpart indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of thisinvention.

This invention,- accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of parts, and inthe unique relationsof the a members and inthe relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as morecompletely outlined herein. To enable others skilled in the art so thenumerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by hisinvention,

drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a part of thisdisclosure,

and in such drawings like characters of reference denote correspondingparts throughout all the views of which Figure 1 is a plan of a panelbox embodying this invention, showing one door open. Figs. 2 and 3 aredetails of the door locking and switch con-trolling elements in unlockedand locked positions respectively. Fig. 4: shows the mechanism inlongitudinal section with the door locked and the switch closed, whileFig. 5 shows the same with the door unlocked and the switch open. Fig. 6is a detailed cross section of the toggle mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, A designates generally a structure in thenature of a box or other suitable inclosure which may be constructed invarious ways, as for example, by means of a base board 1 of insulatingmaterial to ether'with end walls 2 and side walls 4 an 5' of insulatingmaterial. One or more partitions 3 and 6 may, if desired, be arrangedwithin the space inclosed by these walls so as to divide the same into agutter B for receiving the leading-in wires; the switch containingcompartment 0 and the fuse containing compartment D.

The gutter B may contain the bus bars 7 8, etc., having over-headterminals 9 ex tending into the compartment C, and providing contactsfor the switch blades; These parts are in turn covered by the overlyingslab 10 of insulating material which may be exteriorly sheathed by ametal plate 11.

floor, 'a contact piece 12, which extends through the partition 6 andterminates within the compartment D in a spring clip .90 13 adapted toreceive one end of a fuse unit. A similar clip 14 is connected with thebranch line terminal 15 and receives the other end of the fuse unit.These terminals 13 and 14 typify any type of fuseplug receptacle. f

The compartment C is covered by a plate or door 16 which .may be removedfor purposes of inspection by detaching the screws or their fasteners 17and this plate preferably is also utilized. to support or carry a switchunit E conforming to the teachings of my application No. 42,956 andillustrated in detail in Fig. 6. This switch unit comprises the blade Sswinging about the axis 2i and actuated by the arm 0 through the handle69 precisely as detailed in my said co-pending case.

The toggle mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6 is such as to cause theswitch blade to be forced into and locked in its closed circuit positionagainst the contacts 9 and 12, or to permit the switch blade to snapinto open circuit position by spring action.

lVhile it will be understood that any suitable type of switch mechanismmay be employed wherewith to swing the switch blade S in response to themovements of the operating handle, the mechanism illustrated in thedrawings includes a pair of toggle links 30 and 31 pivotally connectedtogether, as at 32. The link 30 is mounted upon the pivot 03, while thelink 31 is pivotally connected, as at 33, to the blade-carrying plate Rat one side of the pivot 12. When the toggle is made the pivot 33, is,of course, moved downwardly so that the blade is swung into the positionshown in Fig. 1, while when the toggle is broken, the blade stands inthe off position as in Figs. 5 and 6.

The link 30 is provided with extension parts 34 and 35 for engagingagainst surfaces 36 and 37 respectively to determine the two positionsof the toggle.

A spring 38 normally retains the blade in off position.

The inner end of the lever O is provided with spaced opposing shoulders39 and &0 so arranged as to engage the knee of the toggle for actuatingthe toggle and at the same time for providing ample lost motion toenable the toggle to snap off.

A closure member in the nature of a door F is arranged so as normally toobstruct access to the compartment D which contains the fuse units andthis door may be arranged to be displaced in any convenient manner, asby being hinged at 17 to a frame element of the box, and to facilitateits being displaced or opened it may be provided with a handle G. Thisinvention also contemplates an arrangement whereby this door will bekept looked under certain switchposition conditions and, conveniently,the lock or latch features may be actuated also by the handle G. Thus,the handle Gr is shown pivoted to the door F carrying on the rear sideof the door a rotatable plate 18 providing a contact surface 19(conveniently in the form of a pin) operative to actuate a switch lock.

The plate 18 is provided with an extension 20 in the nature of a latchor hook adapted to engage with a catch member 21 so that the door F maybe locked in its closed position.

This invention proposes a switch lock indicated generally by H anddetailed in Fi s. 2 and 3; its purpose being to enable t e switchmechanism to be locked in its open circuit position so that it may notbe closed. It is further proposed to arrange this look so that it is inturn controlled by the door look, so that the switch lock is unlockedwhen the door lock is locked, and conversely.

The switch lock may conveniently be contained within a casing providedby the conformation of the member 21 and it comprises a pawl or dog 22adapted to be shifted into different positions, preferably by a pivotalmovement, as around the pin 23. This pawl provides a contact surface 24which is adapted to determine the position of a switch actu atingprojector T. The relation between the surface 2 1 and the pin 23 is suchas to prevent turning of the pawl 22 under actuation of the projector T,Whenever the pawl 22 is in the position shown by Fig. 2, 2'. 0., itslocking position. This may be regarded as its norma position inasmuch asthe pawl is urged into this position by means of a compression spring25. Over throw is prevented by impact of the point 26 of the pawlagainst a part of the casing 21. According to this construction, theprojector T will normally be urged andmaintained in thrs retractedposition by the action of the awl 22 except when the latter is rendereinoperative by the door lock as will now be described.

When the handle G is turned so as to lock the door, the latch 20 entersthe locking recess 27 in the casing 21 and the pin 19 enters thebifurcated end of the pawl 22 and by pressing against the same at thepoint 28 swings it into the position shown by Fig. 3 with the resultthat the door is locked and the switch is unlocked.

' It is of course intended that the spring 25 shall not be of suflicientstrength to move the latch 20 from its locked position when theprojector T is moved away from the pawl by operation of the switch whilethe door is locked.

WVhen the door is unlocked the pin 19, by pressing against the pawl atthe point 29, assists the spring 25 in turning the pawl into theposition shown by Fig. 5 with the result that the switch mechanism isthrown into its open circuit position, the pressure imparted by theoperator for rotating the pawl and pressing back the projector T havingbeen effective for breaking the tog le and allowing the blade to snapoff. The door now is unlocked and may be opened and should an attempt bemade to throw the switch with the door open, the projector T will impactat the point 24, but can not turn the pawl 22 owing to the dead centerrelation between the point 24; and the axis 23.

As numerous changes could be made in the construction without departingfrom the scope of the following claims, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description, or shown in the accompanyingdrawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to securethe following combinations of elements, or equivalents thereof, byLetters Patent of the United States 1. A switch mechanism comprising ahousing having a removable wall part iving access to the interiorthereof, a switc having a part movable into on and 01f posi tions, alock for the removable wall part to retain said wall part againstremoval, said lock having a part movable into locked andIIIIIQCkGdPOSltlOIlS, and a separately formed and independently mountedmember disposed in'the path of movement of the men.- tioned part of thelock adapted when said mentioned part of the lock moves to one of itspositions to be engaged by said mentioned part of the lock and having apart arranged to be moved as the result of such engagement into aposition to retain the mentioned part of the switch against movementinto one of its positions.

2. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, manual control means for the switch blade, an obstructionmember, means urging the obstruction member normally into a position toobstruct on movement oi the switch blade, a displaceable closure-memberfor said opening, a lock for said closure member, and means whereby todisplace said obstruction member when said closure member is closed andlocked.

3. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening th'ereinto, aswitch blade, manual control means for the switch blade, an obstructionmember normally positioned to obstruct on. movement of the switch blade,a displaceable closure member for said opening, a latch device for theclosure member having a part movable into position for latching theclosure member against opening movement, and said obstruction memberhaving a part dis osed in the path of movement of sa1d .mova le part 7of the latch device whereby to displace'the obstruction member when thelatchdevice is in latching position.

4. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, manual control means for the switch blade, an obstructionmember, a pivotal support ,for the obstruction member, resilient meansurging the obstruction member into dead-center position relative to amoving part of the switch mechanism to thereb ob' struct on movement ofthe switch b ade,

9. displaceable closure member for said opening, a lock for said closuremember, and means whereby to displace said obstruction member from itsdead-center position when.

said closure member is closed and locked.

5. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, manual control means for the switch blade, an obstructionmember, a pivotal support for the obstruction member, resilient meansurging the obstruction member into dead-center position relative toa'moving part of the switch mechanism to thereby obstruct on movementofthe switch blade, a displaceable closure member for said opening, alock for said closure member, means whereby to displace said obstructionmember from its dead-center position when said closure member is closedand locked, and means whereby to insure return movement of theobstruction member to its dead-center position upon unlocking movementof thelock.

6. A switchmechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, manual control means for the switch blade, a closuremember for said opening, a latch device for said closure member, ahousing having an opening thereinto, means within said housing operableto determine the operation of the switch mechanism, and said latchdevice having a part disposed to move into and out of said housing foroperating the mechanism therein.

7. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, means for operating the switch blade, 1

a displaceable closure member for said opening, an obstruction member ofa character to retain the switch blade oif when said closure member isdisplaced, and means operable independently of the switch operatingmeans to dis lace said obstruction member only when sa1d closure memberis in closing a blade, means for operating the switch blade,

a displaceable closure member for said opening, an obstruction member ofa character to retain the switch blade oi? when said closure member isdisplaced, and a lock for the closure member operable independently ofthe switch operating means and being of a character to render saidobstruction member non-obstructing while the closure member is locked.

10. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, means for operating the switch blade, a displaceableclosure member for said opening, an obstruction member of a character toretain the switch blade off when said closure member is displaced, alock for the closure member comprising a part adapted for operating saidobstruction member, and said part being carried by and movable with theclosure member and being arranged to be moved into position foroperating upon the obstruction member by movement of the closure memberinto closing position.

11. A'switch mechanism combining a cas ing having an opening thereinto,a switch blade, control means for the switch blade, a closure member forsaid opening, means operable to obstruct theoperation of the switchmechanism, and an independently formed lock device for said closuremember having a part arranged for operating said last mentioned means.

12. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, manual control means for the switch .blade, a displaceableclosure member for said opening, an element operable to displace theclosure member, a part movable by said element to lock the closuremember against displacement, connections between said part and saidswitch blade whereby to constitute an auxiliary control means for theswitch blade, and said connections including means to retain the switchblade in open-circuit position while said closure member is unlocked.

13. A switch mechanism combining a cas ing having an opening thereinto,a switch blade, manual control means for the switch blade, adisplaceable closure member for said opening, auxiliary control meansfor the switch blade, comprising a part of a character to retain theswitch blade in opencircuit position when said closure member is in oneof its positions, and means whereby the effectiveness of the auxiliarycontrol means is determined by the position of the closure member.

14. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, adisplaceable closure member for said opening, a latch for said closuremember, a switch blade, an operating element for the switch bladeoperable to move the switch blade into on and ofl' positions, saidswitch blade and said operating element being arranged 'within thecasing and mounted independently of said closure member, a controlmemfor the operating element extendlng exteriorly of the casing, andmeans in com.- bination requiring first that the closure member beclosed and latched whenever the switch blade is on, and second that theswitch blade be off during the time while the closure member isdisplaced, and said means being of a character such that the closuremember will remain closed and latched during on and 01f movement of theswitch blade and when the switch blade is off.

15. In a switch mechanism comprising a casing having an openingthereinto, a displaceable closure for said opening, a switch movableinto on and off positions, said switch being arranged within the easingand mounted independently of the closure member, and. a control. memberfor the switch extending exteriorly ot' the easing, the combinationtherewith of a latch device for the closure member comprising one partcarried by the casing and a separate part connected with the closuremember, the part carried by the casing having a tendency normally toretain the switch held off when the switch has been moved to offposition, the part connected with the closure member being movable bythe closure member into and out of a position separated from the partcarried by the easing, and being adapted to engage the part carried bythe casing to retain the same against its normal tendency so that theswitch is left free to move into on and oil? positions when the closuremember is closed, and said two parts being cooperative to require thatthe closure member be closed during all. on movements of the switch andto retain the closure member latched during on and oft movements of theswitch, said latch device being also of a character to releasably retainthe closure member closed when the switch is H. Off.

16. In a switch mechanism comprising a casing having an openingthereinto, a dis placeable closure member for said opening, a switchmovable into on and ofi positions, said switch being arranged within thecasing and mounted independently of the closure member, and a controlmember for the switch extending exteriorly ot' the easing, thecombination therewith of a latch device for the closure member includingmeans cooperative with the switch to require that the closure member beclosed to latching position during all on move ments of the switch andwhenever the switch is on and to retain the closure member latchedduring on and oil movements of the switch, said latch device being alsoof a character to releasably retain the closure member closed when theswitch is (4 Off.

17. In a switch mechanism comprising a the switch to require that theclosure mem-' ber be closed to latching position during all on movementsof the switch and .whenever the switch is on, said latch device havingas a part thereof an obstruction member operable to obstruct on movementof the switch, said latch device having as another part thereof a memberadapted to interengage with the obstruction member for retaining theclosure member closed when the switch is on, and a barrier within thecasing opposing access to said obstruction member through said openingwhen said closure member is displaced.

18. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, manual control means for theswitcli blade, an obstructionmember, means urging the obstruction member normally into a position toobstruct on movement of the switch blade, a displaceable closure memberfor said opening, means dependent upon a closed position of said closuremember adapted to displace the obstruction member, said last means beingindependent of said manual control means, and said obstruction memberbeing at the same time of a character to interengage with said lastmeans for retaining the closure member closed when the switch is on.

19. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, manual control means for the switch blade, an obstructionmember, a pivotal support for the obstruction member, resilient means toswing the obstruction member about its pivot so as to dispose apart'thereof for obstructing on movement of the switch, a displaceableclosure memberfor said opening, and means dependent upon a closedposition of said closure member adapted to swing said part of theobstruction member out of obstructing position, said last means beingindependent of said manual control means, and said obstruction memberbeing at thesame time of a character to interengage with said last meansfor retaining the closure member closed when the switch is on.

20. A safety panel box having two compartments therein, a switch andswitch contacts in one compartment and a fuse in the other compartment,the panel box having two openings thereinto one for each compartment andincluding two movable members mounted and movable independently of eachother one for closing one of said openings and the other for closing theremaining opening, interlock mechanism cooperative between the switchand one of said movable members for preventing movement of the lastmentioned movable member out of closed position while the switch is inengagement with its contacts, and means for operating the switch, thearrangement being I such that the switch is inoperable to engage itscontacts while the movable member of either of said openings is out ofclosed position.

21. A safety switch box having two compartments therein, a switch in onecompartment and a fuse in the other, each of said compartments having anopening thereinto, two separate closure members one for each opening,said closure members being mounted independently of each other, andmeans controlled by the switch for preventing opening of the movablemember of the fuse compartment so long as the switch is closed, saidswitch being arranged to be precluded from closing so long as themovable member of the switch compartment is open.

22. A safety switchbox having two compartments therein, a switch in onecompartment and a fuse in the other, each of said compartments having anopening thereinto, two separate closure members one for each opening,said closure members being mounted independently of each other, saidswitch being arranged to be precludedfrom closing so long as the movableclosure member of the switch compartment is open.

23. In a safety switch device, a box havingan opening thereinto, a doormovable into and out of position closing said opening, switch mechanismwithin the box, a manually operable operating handle for the switchmechanism projecting exteriorly of the box operable to move the switchinto on and off positions, and means in combination' providinginterengagement between the door and the switch mechanism and beingoperable upon the switch mechanism independently of manual operation ofsaid operating handle requiring first that the door be in closedposition prior to full on movement of the switch, second, that the doorcannot be opened while the switch is in full on position, and third,that the operation of opening the door will move the switch to offposition.

24:. In a safety switch device, a box having an opening thereinto, adoor movable into and out ofposition closing said opening, switchmechanism within the box, a manually operable operating handle for theswitch mechanism projecting exteriorly of the box operable to move theswitch into on and off positions, and means in combination providinginterengagement between the door and the switch mechanism and beingoperable upon the switch mechanism independently of manual operation ofsaid operating handle requiring first that the door he in closedposition prior to full on movement of the switch, second, that the doorcannot be opened while the switch is in full on position, and third,that the.switch must be moved out of the on position prior to full openmovement of the door.

25. A safety switch having two compartments therein, a switch in onecompartment and a fuse in the other compartment, a cover capable ofbeing opened for giving access into one of said compartments, a doormovable independently of the cover for giving access to the othercompartment, and interlock mechanism between said door and said switchoperable when both said cover and said door are closed to enable onmovement of the switch and being of a character to preclude the switchfrom being moved into circuit closing position while either said coveror said door is open.

26. A switch mechanism combining a casing having an opening thereinto, aswitch blade, manual control means for the switch blade, means toobstruct on movement of the switch blade, a displaceable closure membeerfor said opening, means depending upon a closed position of the closuremember adapted to displace the switch obstructing member out ofobstructing position, said last means being independent of said manualcontrol means for the switch blade, and said switch obstructing memberbeing at the same time of a character to interengage with said lastmeans for retaining the closure member closed when the switch is on.

27. In a switch mechanism combining a casing having an openingthereinto, a displaceable closure member for said opening, a switchblade and operating means for the switch blade operable to move theswitch blade into on and off positions, said switch blade and saidoperating means being arranged within the casing and mountedindependently of the closure member, a control member for the operatingmeans extending exteriorly of the casing, and means in combinationrequiring first that the closure member be closed and latched wheneverthe switch blade is on, and second, that the switch blade be cit duringthe time when the closure member is displaced, said means being of acharacter such that the closure member will remain closed and latchedduring on and off movements of the switch blade, and said meanscomprising a part movably supported by the casing and a second partcarried by the closure member, the part carried by the closure memberbeing adapted to engage the part carried by the casing for moving thepart carried by the caslng.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the twosubscribing witnesses.

HUBERT F. KRANTZ.

Witnesses:

LEON MINTZ, B. COOKE.

